ANTIQUITIES AND ISLAMIC ART SALE
Lot 200:
Description
This rare and remarkable Sufi Kashkul (begging bowl) originates from 19th-century Iraq and is a superb example of devotional craftsmanship. Made of white metal, the surface is beautifully decorated with exquisite black niello inlay, featuring a combination of Qur’anic inscriptions, invocations, and the names of revered religious figures.
The inscriptions include the name of the bowl’s likely original owner:
Sayyed Sultan Faqir Makhdom Wali Badshah Sheikh Mawlana Muhiyddin Hilli—a distinguished Sufi, likely of noble or saintly lineage, and possibly a revered teacher in the region of Hilla (Iraq).
The outer body of the bowl is encircled with elaborate Arabic calligraphy, framed with decorative borders and foliate motifs. The interior features additional invocations and religious verses, finely executed with clear, flowing script, surrounded by botanical motifs, suggesting spiritual growth and divine guidance.
Traditionally used by wandering dervishes or Sufi mystics, the kashkul symbolized humility, detachment from worldly possessions, and service to the spiritual path. Bowls of this scale and with such richly detailed inscriptional programs are extremely rare, especially when bearing full names and personal dedications.
L: 16cm
Share this lot:
